Checklist - before adding fish/live rock?

I have just setup my 65g tank with 100lbs of live sand and I am ready to add a couple fish to get things going. I checked the specific gravity(1.0022) and PH(8.2). Is there any other things I can check before I add the fish and live rock? I am also wanting to add a couple small clown fish as the starter fish instead of damsels. Is that a good idea?

Thanks for your replies!

 

I would add the rock, wait 2 or 3 days then the first fish. If you mean ONE small fish to cycle the tank then you are fine. I would wait on the pair of clowns oh and you only want a max of 2 clowns per a tank that size, try a few blue green chromis?

 

Get the salinity to 1.024-1.026. Add your rock and sand now. You have to cycle your tank before adding fish.

 

The tank should be cycled before adding any fish. The most common way to cycle the tank is with a piece of raw shrimp. Add the shrimp and let it decompose. The decomposition will start the Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate cycle. Even some fish food can start this process.

Cycling a tank with fish is cruel. The ammonia cycle burns their gills

Edit: Make sure to add the live rock before cycling. The LR is where the majority of bacteria that brake down Ammonia live. If there is enough die-off from the LR it may enough to start the cycle.

You can use mostly Base Rock as an alternative to LR. Then you can use a small amount of LR to seed the base rock.

 

As others stated, get your salinity up to the values stated, and put some live rock in. Or at least 1 piece then the rest dry. You can add a raw shrimp to kick start the cycle, or do a cheap damsel. But do not add anything else until the tank is done cycling.

 

DON'T GET THE DAMSELS. They usually get mean as they get bigger and it is a war to catch them. Although they are the basically the cheapest heartiest fish. (If you do end up getting the damsels, and a few weeks later when you are trying to catch them, I built a foolproof trap... you can msg me and i'll send you a pic) Add your rock first. When the levels are good I would try a pair of clowns. You shouldn't add the rock and fish at the same time.

 

if you can, get the rock in the tank first. ReefCleaners.org has great prices on cleaned base rock, which you can seed with live rock. also, after rock is added, maybe a CUC before the fish. IMO a Fairy Wrasse would be a hardy starter for the most part. better than tangs and angels, and don't need a pair.